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Sports

Highlanders' Season Over After Falling to Hornets

Hazen is out as Enumclaw advances to the West Central District Tournament.

Hazen’s season ended Friday night as the Highlanders fell to South Puget Sound League opponent Enumclaw Hornets 52-44. Hornets’ senior post Katina Ferguson led her team with 18 points, along with sophomore guard Calli Remitz with 12 points. Enumclaw (9-12) will wait to see if they will be the West Central District fourth or fifth seed.

Hazen (11-9) opened the fourth quarter with a 29-28 lead. The Hornets began an 8-2 scoring run before Hazen’s junior guard Airashay Rogers, who finished with 20 points, was fouled after making a field goal. Rogers’ free throw shot helped the Highlanders cut Enumclaw’s lead 36-34 before the Hornets took the lead for good. A 3-point play and two 3-point field goals increased Enumclaw’s lead.

Hazen Head Coach Jeff Bernhardt gave an explanation of how the Hornets started making their 3-point field goals.

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“They got into the rhythm of the 3-point shots,” said Bernhardt, “but that was because we lost our defensive responsibilities.”

The Highlanders countered with a 3-point field goal by sophomore forward Anastasia Pallis. Junior forward Samantha McCord was unable to complete a 3-point play as she missed her free throw shot. A steal from Hornets’ sophomore guard Jessica Snoen helped to set up a 3-point field goal by Remitz. Hazen’s Rogers managed a 3-point field goal to get the Highlanders within 5 points, but with 2 minutes left in the game, the Highlanders shots fell silent as Enumclaw held on to win.

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Bernhardt said he wanted to go man-to-man defense, allowing Highlanders guards to go one-on-one with a ball-handler while keeping the Hornets’ post player covered.

“We had good double-teams,” said Bernhardt, “but they were bringing their post up.”

The Highlanders will graduate starting senior guards Keyanna Reed and Michelle Wnek, along with guard Starr Williams, but will return next season with players who gained experience playing the post position.

“I would’ve liked to get a little more experience with a playoff push,” said Bernhardt, “but unfortunately that’s not the way it works.”

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